Pile-elevator for sheet-feeding machines.



" B. GUSTAFSON.

PILE ELEVATOR FOR SHEET FEEDING MACHINES.

- APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1909.

Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

2 8HEETS-SHEET 1- Erma K25)". 1 i Ulw B. GUSTAFSON.

PILE ELEVATOR FOR SHEET FEEDING MACHINES.

APPLIQATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1909. 9543a, Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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- fed upwardly (a l? l; Gi l BERNHAED GUSTAFSWN' 0F PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

FILE-ELEVATOR FOR SHEET-FEEDING MACHINES,

Application filed September 20, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, B'ERNIIARD Gos'rarson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainfield, county of Union, State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Pile-Elevators for Sheet-Feeding Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts. i

This invention relates to amechanism for feeding a pile of superimposed shcetsinto position to be acted upon by suitable sheetsegregating devices of a sheet-feeding device, such as is used in connection with printing presses. My previous patent No. 912,563, granted February 16, 1909, closes an invention for securing the same end. I

The present invention presents a mechanism of a more simple and inexpensive construction but which will be found in many cases to answer the required purposes. v

The mechanism of the present invention as in the case of the aforesaid patent occupies a minimum amount of space, allows access to'three sides of the support for the pile of sheets and enables the supply of sheets in pile form to be maintained with sufficient continuity so as to require the stoppage of the sheet-feeding mechanism for but comparatively brief periods of time.

The present invention employs two separate pile-supporting means or tables and a single set of flexible elevating connections preferably in; the form of chainspthe de pending ends of which are. adapted to be connected to either of said pile-supporting means. The vertical framework within which the pile-supporting means are elevated to feed the pile of sheets into position is provided with a set of brackets preferably vertically adjustable on the frame, and these brackets serve to receive and hold that pile-supporting means or table which is in the lowermost position and which is being supplied with sheets while the other is being to carry the pile of sheets into position.

The flexible elevating connections or chains are wound up to elevate the pile-supporting means or table by a pair of winding pulleys, one at each side of the frame and carried by a single shaft, each winding pulley recei mg dis- Specification of Letters Patent.

the pair of chains at its side CDIlIlQCUllQQ the posts at Patented Apr. 12, 1 .914 set-m1 No. 518,647.

ofthe frame. Suitable mechanism for operating the shaft, herein shown as an intcrm1ttently-operated pawl and ratchet mechanism, 1s provided. It will thus be seen that a simple and inexpensive device is provided which while not as highly ciicient as that made the subject of the aforesaid patent, will answer every purpose in the ma ority of cases and will secure the desired results of a substantial continuity of presentation of-the pile of sheets to the sheet segregating devices.

The invention may more fully appear from the accompanying description an drawing and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

The drawings show the preferred form of mechanism embodying the invention, only so much of the sheet feeding devices proper as is necessary for illustration being shown:

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the pile-elevating-devices with portions of the sheet-feeding mechanism proper shown in relation thereto; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the pile-elevating mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

It is unnecessary to show the sheet-feeding mechanism proper, that is, the devices which segregate the sheets at the top of the pile and deliver them one by one to the feed rolls and tapes by which they are conveyed to the printing press or other mechanism. have, however, indicated at 2 an incline up which the sheets are passed by the usua combing wheel, not shown, to the feed rolls.

The pile-elevating mechanism is supported by a suitable vertical frame herein shown as of skeleton construction comprising four upright posts, a base-'5, cross braces (3 each side at the top, and suitable transverse braces 7. A common form of edge guide for the pile of sheets is indicated at S on the side of the frame from which the sheets are fed. 1 his construction of frame is similar to that shown in the aforesaid patent.

The top of the frame is provided with a single transverse shaft 9 journaled in bearings formed in projections 10 from'the cross bars 6. This shaft carries at one end a gear 11 and has mounted rigidly thereon two winding drums 14, one near each end.

A stub shaft 19 arranged parallel to the shaft 9 carries a pinion 18 intermeshing with a gear 11 and also carries a ratchet wheel 21. A detent pawl 22 pivoted on the frame prevents backward" rotation of the ratchetwheel. A lever 24 is pivoted on the shaft 19 and carries at its upper end a pawl 25'engaging the ratchet wheel 21 while its members herein shown as chains.

lower end, has connected theretoa rod 26 by means of which it is oscillated from some moving part of the sheet-feeding mechanism or printing press. By this means a continuous intermittent rotary'movenient is given to shaft 9 in time with the sheetrfeeding mechanism or printing press. The end of the shaft 19 is given a polygonal form by means of which theshaft may be rotated manually'when desired.

Two separate pile supporting means are provide and each is herein shown as consisting of a board or table 27 and two cross bars 28 upon which the table rests preferably without being fastened thereto. These cross bars 28 are preferably formed of T-shape with the flange cut away at the ends to leave only the vertical web projecting. I

Each of the winding drums I l-is provided with two flexible elevating and suspending These chains which extend from the winding drums 1 4 are indicated at 30 and are-each provided with suitable means such as the slotted links 31 whereby they maybe connected to the projecting ends of the cross bars of either of the pile supports. At suitable points idler pulle s' 34 are provided mounted upon stub sha ts, and the suspending chains pass over the idler pulleys to their connections with the pile supports.

The vertical frame is provided ata suitable distance from the base with four brackets 40. mounted one on 'eachdpost 4 and vertically adjustable thereon an clamped thereto by means of the set screws l. The brackets "projectlinwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, and are formed at their ends to receive and support the projecting ends of the cross bars 28. In theform shown, the brackets are slotted to receive the vertical web of the cross bar.

In the operation of the pile elevator, the

feeding mechanism is then set in motion, thus causing the movement of the rod 26,

which acting through the intermediate mechanism described, intermittently rotates the shaft 9 and winds the chains upon the wind ing drums 14, thus elevating the .pile of sheets and maintaining the upper surface of the pile-iq the ppsitfon desired forfthe proper action oftlie segregating devices.

the fresh sutp These brackets are preferably connections,

When the pile of sheets sup orted upon its table has been elevated su 'ciently, the other pile-supporting means or table is placed in 'posltion upon the brackets 40 and supplied with a pile of sheets in the usual manner. When the first pileof'sheets is nearly exhausted, the sheet-feeding'mech- I anisrn is stopped and the elevated pilessupv porting means or table with its cross bars removed from the chains, the chains are.

drawn down-as before and connected to the lowermost pile-supporting means or table,

the shaft 19 is rotated manually until the top of the .pile of sheets is in position to continue thefeeding, and then the sheet-feedin mechanism is again set into operation and tently as be ore. 1

- It will thus be seen that I have provided a mechanism which .is of exceedingly simple construction and which can be built at a low cost, thus enabling'it to be used in connection with a large variety of sheet-feedingmachines for printing presses and other work. The period of time during which the sheet-feeding mechanism is stopped is not sufficiently eat to delay materially the work of fee ing the sheets and the mechanism can be readil operated and is not liable to et out of or er.

aving fully described my invention,jwhat ply of sheets fed tip intermitk I claim as new and desire. to secure'by vLetters Patent is 1. A pile elevator for sheet-feeding machines comprising two separate pile-supporting'means, a single set of flexible elevating connections having free depending ends, means to connect the depending ends of said connections to either of said pile-supporting means, and means located beneath and in the path of said elevating connections to receive and support one pile-supporting means while being loaded.

2..A pile elevator for sheet-feeding machines comprising two'separate pile-supporting'means, a single set of flexible elevating connections, a shaft, two winding pulleys fast to said shaft, one at each end thereofand each adapted to receive the flexible connections at one side, means'for intermittently rotating said shaft to wind up the said flexible elevatin connections, means to connect the depending ends of said flexible 'ele vating connectionsto either of said pilesupporting means, and means located beneath and independent of said elevating connections to receive and support one; pilesupportin means while being loaded.

A pi e elevator .for sheet-feeding ma-. chines comprising two separate pile-supporting means, a single set offlexible elevating a vertical frame, v mounted on the frame to receive ,and hold one pile-sup ortin brackets means, and means t0 I I connect the open ing ends of said flexible 7?? 4. A pi e elevator for sheet-feeding ma chines comprising two separate pile-supporttwo similar pile-supporting tables,

ing means, a single set of flexible elevating connections, a Vertical frame, vertically-adjust-able brackets mounted on the frame to receive and hold one pile-supportingmeans, andmeans to connect the depending ends of said flexible elevating connections to either of said pile-supporting'means.

5. A pile elevator for sheet-feeding machines comprising a set of elevating chains, a painof cross bars for each table having their ends projecting beyond the table, a vertical frame, brackets mounted on the frame to receive and hold said cross bars when the tableis in position to be elevated, and means to con nect the depending ends of said chains to the projecting ends of the cross bars.

In testimony whereof, I'have signed my name to this specificatiom in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

BERNHARD GUSTAFSON.

Witnesses:

J OSEPH M. THELLABAYER, JOSEPH STEEN. 

